Method of and apparatus for producing roofing



D. A. C UMFER 1,864,806

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ROOFING June 28, 1932 Filed July 17, 1929 '4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEY June: 28, 1932. D. A. CUMFER 1,864,806-

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ROOFING Filed July 17, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY June 28, 1932. D. A. CUMFER 1,864,806

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ROOFING Filed July 17, 1929 4 sheets-sheet a INVENTOR ATTORNEY June 28, 1932. CUMFER- 1,864,806

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ROOFING Filed July 17, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR fi ATTORNEY Parent ed James, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE nolupn A. comma, or Norma, new JERSEY; nssrenoza, BY mrsnn ASSIGNEENTS,

TO THE PATENT AND LICENSING conronn-rron', or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A

conromrron or mssacnusm'rs METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ROOFING Application filed 1111 7.17,

' ing material and is designed particularly for use in connection with prepared asphaltic 5 roofing of the type in which asphalt saturated felted fibrous material is coated with weather and waterproofing material and surfaced with commlnute mineral matter.

An object of the invention is to provide means for reprocessing previously prepared roofing of this character, with a view to enhancing the durability and attractiveness of the finished product, the reprocessing being designed to encase the exposed portlons of the roofing, including the edges as well as the surfaces thereof, in an envelope of weather'andwaterproof material, such for example as high melting point blown asphalt, within which may be partially embedded mineral surfacing material of suitable chars acter. The method and mechanism forming the subject matter of the present invention is adapted, for example, to the manufacture of roofing shingles of .the character set forth in the patent to L.- Kirschbraun, N0. 1,612,77 6, although it should be understood that the principles of the invention may be utilized in the manufacture of roofing material having only a single layer of coating and mineral a0 surfacing, as will clearly appear tothose skilled in the art. 1

It is another object of my invention to provide for carrying on the operation of coating the roofing base with the layer'of weather 5 and waterproof material while the base is moving in a direction parallel to the butt edges of the finished elements and for carrying on the subsequent operation for su rfacing the base while the latter is movin 1n a direction at right angles to the butt e ges of the finished elements, the translation of the motion of the materialfrom one direction of movement to the other taking place at 'a convenient point subsequent to the coating operation and prior to theapplication of the 'mineral surfacing material upon the face of the roofing which is intended to be exposed,

The procedure as last described is of particular advantage in connection with the production of roofing elements surfaced with 1929. Serial No. 378,878.

a plurality of colors such that when a number of the elements 'are assembled on the roof, a pleasing and harmonious effect will be socured. In order to prod'ucethe most desir: able color effects, the practise is to surface the elements, or the sheets from which they are severed,- with differently colored bands of mineral grit, these bands being'so applied asto run generally transversely of the butt edges of the completedelements. It will beappreciated by those skilled in the art that where the surfacing operation is sconducted while the base is progressing through the machine in the direction in which the base travelled during the coating operation, viz, in a direction parallel to the butt edges of the finished 'elementsf it becomes exceedingly diflicult to apply the surfacing material to the base in bands of-diiferent color running at right angles-to'the direction of movement of the base, this problem becoming particularly acute in those cases where the coating material is applied only to the portion of the base which forms the exposed areas of the finished elements, for in such cases, rapid commercial operation makes it necessary to apply the coating material to the base while the latter is moving in a direction parallel to the butt edges of the finished elements.

The principles underlying my present invention, may be utilized in connection with the treatment of continuous lengths of sheet material from which separate elements are cut, as well as with elements that are precut to desired size and configuration, and the de scription to follow will set forth embodi-q ments of the invention in both of these as:

pects.

Fora more complete understanding of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a view in plan of a layout of apparatus that may be employed in carrying outthe invention,

' Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 1,

Fi re '3 is a diagrammatic illustration showing how the elements are transferred from the one direction of movement to the right angular direction,

Figure 4 is an elevation of the portion of the apparatus employed in the surfacing stage,

Figure 5 is a view in elevation of the forward end of the mechanism shown in Figure 4,

Figures 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are sections through Figure 2 along the lines indicated in the last named figures by corresponding numerals,

Figure 11 is a detail in perspective, showing the relation of certain parts of the structure F1gure.12 is a plan View showing an arrangement for starting with continuous lengths of roofing base to be treated in accordance with the invention,

Figure 13 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 12. 1

Referring first to Figures 1 to 11 inclusive, wherein is illustrated a method and an organization of apparatus for carrying out the invention in conjunction with precut elements, the numeral 10 indicates a table or other suitable support upon which a number of the precut elements may be stacked for feeding them directly to the machine, the elements themselves being indicated by the numeral 11. In carrying out the invention,

around pulleys 14 and 15 respectively, the

arrangement being i such, that the lower stretch of the belt 12 and the upper stretch of the belt 13 are spaced from each other a distance corresponding substantially -to the thickness .of the elements so that they will pinch or grip the elements and convey them at a uniform speed through the machine, the

elements being gripped by the belts along their head portions as will be understood, so that the areas of the elements to be coated extend laterally outward of the belts in position to receive the coating material. The elements as thus-gripped and supported by the belts preferably first pass over a heating chamber 16 for driving out moisturetherefrom and to render them slightly warm and in condition for better retention of the coating material. The elements then pass beneath a'stream or spray of coating'material, such for example as molten blown asphalt of meltingpoint 220 .F., delivered from a suitable source of supply through the feed pipe 17. A screening device'18 may, if desired, be interposed between the elements and the discharge end of the feed pipe to collect any lumpy material that may exist in the coating, the coating material thenflowing onto the free upper face of the elements and over the butt and side edges thereof, as well as over the edges of all slots or notches that may be formed in these precut elements to define tabs or shingle-simulating portions therein. The coating material may be doctored off to form a smooth layer thereon by means of the doctor roll 19. Similar coating may also, if desired, be applied to the free underface of the elements as by means of a coating roll 20 revolving in a bath of the-coating material 21, this undercoating'being preferably also doctored as by means of a pipe 22. When coating material is applied to the underface of the element, I preferably apply surfacing material to this coating prior to the application of the surfacing material to the upper face of the elements, which is intended to be the exposed face when the elements are laid on a roof. For this purpose, I provide an endless carrier belt 23 passing around suitable pulleys 24, 24a, and 25, the arrangement of these pulleys being such that the upper stretch of the belt 23, moving in the direction indicated by the arrows, will first travel in an upwardly inclined direction from the pulley 24 to the pulley 25, and then assume a horizontal direction of travel from .the pulley 25 to the pulley 24a. The driving mechanism for this carrier belt is preferably arranged to drive the'belt at the same linear speed as the belts 12 and 13.- During the passage of the carrier belt from the pulley 24 to the pulley 25, surfacing material such as crushed slate, powdered talc, mica or the like, is discharged thereon from a hopper 26 to which the surfacing material 'may be supplied from any convenient source as by means of a conduit 27 The bed of surfacing material thus carried on the belt 23 will be contacted with the lower face of the elements at the upper horizontal stretch of the carrier belt,

the surfacing material becoming partially imbedded in the coating on the lower face of the element while surplus surfacing material drops into a receiver 28 as the belt passes around the pulley 240, this surplus material being preferably returned in any convenient mannerto the conduit 27. The heretofore described mode 'of coating the roofing base provides a novel and inexpensive procedure for processing, through the coating stage, roofing elements of the type set forth in the aforementioned Kirschbraun patent.

After the elements have been thus coated on the upper face, or coated on both faces and surfaced on the underface thereof, and prior to the application "of the surfacing material to'the upper face thereof, the movement of the elements is converted from a direction parallel to the butt edges thereof, into a direction at right angles to the line of the butt edges thereof. For this purpose,I provide a rotating spider wheel'30, or similar device, suitably driven in such relation to the drives for the belts 12 and 13'that the successive ele ments delivered from thedischarge end of the gripping belts 12 and 13 will be received upon oneof the arms .31 ofthe spider, which latter, rotating in a counterclock-wise direc-,

tion as viewed in Figure .4, delivers the suecessive elements. onto an endless feed ,belt 33 passing around suitable .pulleys34. In Fig ure 3 I have illustrated diagrammatically ment-s,.in being discharged from the belts 12,

13, may fall upon thebelt, 33 with the butt edges thereof at various anglesto the direction of. movement of. thebeltr This would be undesirable inaccordance with my invention since inyordert'o surface the elements I, in the most desiredmanner, the different .col-

ors of surfacin material should be applied in bands, running generally parallel to the side edges of the elements and. at right angles to their butt edges. -By thus interposinga receiving device such as the spider30, proper alignment of the elements is had before their discharge onto the feed belt-34. Ttwill be apparent also that where, coating/material, is applied to the underface. of the elements,

this coating layer must-be surfaced with mineral coating material on-the underface of the eleigients would 'cause'them to adhere to the elt.

'on the belt 33,.athei1 pass beneath a surfacing device for applying surfacing, material.

preferably in bands of difierent colors to the upper coated face thereof. This surfacing device may take the usual form o'f-hopper 35 separated by partitions 36 into. compartments 37, each ofwhich may receive surfacing 'ma-. terial of desired color from a conduit 38 in.- dividually to each compartment. The surthe hopper 35 onto the coated elements in bands extending transversely of the elements, whereupon the elements may be fed between press rolls 39 for causing the surfacingmaterial to be partially imbedded inand afiixed to the coating; A suitable receiving or col-.

lecting device 4.0 is positioned adjacent the forward or d scharge end of the belt 33 to grit or'the like prior t6 the deliveryof .the elements to the belt 33, asotherwise the the conveyor belt 33.

collect the elements and receive the surplus surfacing material, the latter belng delivered fiom the lower end of the collecting'device 40 onto a receiving belt 41, and conducted thereby to suitable elevators or other conveying devices for returning the surplus material, either as separate streams'to the respective hoppers 37 or as amixture to the conduit 27' a v to be applied to the u'nderface of the elements;

Thus far I have described a method of carrying out my invention conjunction with the treatment of. precut elements, but as already stated, the principles of'the invention are likewise applicable to a procedure wherein the starting material comprises continu-- ous lengths of roofing.

InFigure's12 and 13 v procedure of the last mentioned type omit- I have illustrateda I ting from these figures, for the sake of clear' ness, some of the parts shown in Figures 1 to- 11. ,In these figures, the starting material comprising continuous lengths of the'b'ase 45,

is on the portions ofthe upper, or both faces 1' thereof which 'are'free of thebelts 12 and 13,

and surfaced on the lower'coated face in the manner already described. The base is then passed through cutting mechanism 46' posisevering the continuous strips of material into 'tioned between the discharge end of'the belts 12, 13 and the rotatable spider wheel 30, for' separate elements, which'pass onto thespider wheel 30 for delivery tothefee'd' belt 33. The .cutting mechanism 46 may'comprise a lower .bed roll 47 and an upper-cutting roll 48 formed blades for severing successive elementsfromthe continuous lengths of the 1 base'4c5, and also, if desired, with knives for forming slots or other tab-defining means theexposed portions of the elements, the suc-" cessive elements as already'stated, being then delivered toQthe" belt'33 to travel during the surfacing operation, in a direction at rightangles to the direction of movement of the base 45 during, the coating operation. *lin this procedure, the slots, or tab-defining per x 1 tions, ma'y, if desired, be formed along'the The elements thus properly positioned up-.

free edge of the base 45 prior to the coating The operation of the apparatus heretofore disclosed is as follows:

The stacked roofing elements 10 to be treated are located adjacent one end of the machine and on the platform. or table 11. facing materlal willjthus be discharged from These elements 10 are so inserted in a single [file relation bet'ween the adjacent reaches of the gripping and conveying belts 12 and 13 shown in Figure 1,-the elements are conveyed in a horizontal plane with their butt edges its that only the headportions of the el t I parallel to their line of travel and in this manner pass between the heating chamber 16 and the asphalt supply device 17 under which is located the screen device 18 adapted to separate the lumpy materialfrom the fluid coating. The elements carrying the coating material discharged from the'screen device onto the free or ungripped portions of'the elements pass between the rolls 19 and 20, the roll 19 serving as a doctoring means for the coating on the upper face of the coated strip and the roll-20 carrying asphalt from the tank 22 and serving to coat the lower face of the elements. After the coating on the lower face is suitably doctored by means of the doctoring device 22, the elements continuing in their straightyline travel have the coating on their lower faces surfaced with mineral grits carried by the belt 23. The'coated elements while in their original position relative to the direction of travel of the belt and still ing mechanism 12 and 13. Thus the elements are maintained in a horizontal plane while being'carriedalong by the conveyors 12 and 33, but are caused to change front by the transfer mechanism '30. During the con veyance of these elements on the belt 33, the

coating on the upper face thereof is surfaced with mineral grits delivered from a single or multLcOmpartment hopper 35, and thenpass between'the' press rolls 39and finally into the receiving mechanism 40. e

The operation will be substantially the same where thefbase is a strip of indeterminate length. With such a base the operations on the first conveying mechanism are 1 the same. By means of the cutting mechanism 46 interposed between the discharge end of the belts and the transfer mechanism 30, the stri p is severed into equi-length elements that are delivered to the transfer mechanism 30 which deposits the severed elements onto the conveyor belt 33. As the elements are conveyed on the beltv33, they may be treated in a manner similar to that already described.

Having thus described myinvention it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the spiritof the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:- 1. In the method of producing roofing elements, the steps which comprise coating the edge of the finished elements, applying coating material to a surface of'the base While being thus fed, translating the motion of the base to movement in a direction at right angles to the butt edges of the finished elements and while moving in the latter direction, applying surfacing material to the coated surface thereof.

3. In a method of producing roofing elements the steps which comprise feeding a roofing base in a direction parallel to the butt edge of the finished elements, applying coating material to a surface of the base while being thus fed, translating the movement of the base to a direction at right angles to the butt edges of the finished elements and while moving in the latter direction, applying surfacing material to the coated surface thereof in aplurality of bands of different-colors.

4. The method of producing roofing elements surfaced in bands of different colors extending transversely of the butt .edge of the elements, which comprises feeding the elements in a direction parallel tothe butt edges thereof, applying coating material to a face of the elements while being thus fed, translating the movement of the elements to a direction at right angles to the butt edges thereof, and while the elements are moving in the last named' direction, applying surfacing material thereto in bands of different colors 7 extending transversely of the butt edges thereof. v

' 5. The method of producing roofing elements surfaced in bands of different colors extending transversely of the butt edge of the elements, whichcomprises feeding, the elements in a direction parallel to the butt edges thereof, applying coating material to .both faces of the .elements being thus fed,

surfacing one ofv the coated faces of the elements, translating the movement of the elements to a direction at right angles to the but edges thereof, and while the elements are moving in the last named direction applying surfacing material to the opposite face thereof in bands of different colors extending transversely ofthe butt edges thereof.

6. The method of producing roofing elements surfaced in bands of different colors extending transversely of the butt edge of the elements, which comprises feeding the ele- 1 ments in a direction parallel to the butt edges thereof, ap lying coating material to a portion of a ace of the elements while being thus fed, translating the movement of the are moving in the last named direction, ap-' plying surfacing material thereto in bands of different colors extending transversely of the butt edges thereof. I v

7. The method of producing roofing elements surfaced in bands of difierent colors extending transversely of the butt edge of the elements, which comprises feeding the elements in. a direction parallel to the butt edges thereof, applying coating material to a portion of both faces of the elements-being thus fed, surfacing one of the coated faces of the, elements, translating the movement of the elements to a direction at right angles to the butt edges thereof, and while the elements are moving in the last named direction, applying surfacing material to the opposite faces thereof in bands of difl'erent colors extending transversely of the butt edges thereof.

8. Apparatus for, the purpose described, comprising means for feeding separate elements in a direction parallel to the butt edges thereof, means for supplying coating material to a'face of the elements as thus fed,

means for feeding the coated elements at right angles to the first named direction of movement, and means for surfacing the coated face of the elements While moving in the right angular direction.

9. Apparatus for the purpose described comprising means for feeding separate elements. in a direction parallel to the butt edges thereof, means for supplying coating mate: rial to both faces of the elements as thus fed, means for surfacing onev of the coated faces of the elements, means for feeding the ele ments at right angles to the first named direction of movement and means for surfac ing the other coated face of the elements while moving in the right-angular direction.

10..Apparatus 'for the purpose described comprising means for feeding separate elements in a direction parallel to the butt edges thereof, means for supplying coatin mateing rial to both faces of the elements as t us fed, means for surfacing one of the coated faces 'of the elementsfmeans for feeding the. ele- -ments at right angles to the'first named di rectionof movement and meansfor surfacbands of-difierent colors while moving in the right-angular direction.

11, Apparatus for the purpose-described comprising means. for feeding separate ele-. ments in a direction parallel to the butt edges thereof, said feeding means comprising a pair of endless belts arranged to grip the elements along the head portions thereof and to leave the remainingpgrtion's thereof free of the belts, means for supplying coating material to one of the free faces of-the elements, conveying mechanism positioned adjacent ments in bands of different colors dur' surface of the ungripped the other coated face of the elements in portionsfiif-both faces of said elements, an

the discharge end of-said endless belts and having movement in a direction at ri ht angles thereto, means for delivering t e elements from said endless belts to sald convey-- ing mechanism and means for supplying surfacing material to the coated face of the chi travel of. the elements on said conveying mechanism. 1

12. Apparatus comprising ments in a direction parallel to the butt edges thereof, said feeding means comprising a. pair of endless belts arranged to grip the elements along the head portions thereof and to leave the remaining portions thereof free of the'belts,-means for supplying coating material ito1hoth free faces of the elements, means for surfacing one of the coated faces of the-elements, conveying mechanism posi gthe for the purpose described. means for feeding separate eletioned adjacent the discharge end of said.

endless belts and having movement in'a direction at right angles thereto, means for de' 1 livering the elements from said endless belts to said conveying mechanism and means for supplying surfacing material to coated faces of the elements in bands of different colors during the travel of the elements on said conveyin mechanism.

13. In the art of pro ucing roofing Wherein felted fibrous material is coated with Waterproof material and subsequently surfaced with comminuted mineral matter, the improvement which consists in the step of coating face to be exposed of the material while the material is moving in one direction relative to its butt edge and surfacing the .material while it is moving in a direction substantially at right angles to the first named direction.

M. In the method of producin roofing,

the other Mill the steps which comprise gripping t e roofing base'in horizontal position along a widthwise portion thereof, feeding'the lease forwardly fluid coating material to one portion thereof. 15. In. the method of producing roofing elements, the steps which comprise gripping pre-cut elements in a horizontal position along portions of both faces thereof, feedin the this gripped elements forwardly, an applying fluid coating material to'the unand applying gripped portions of one face thereof.

16. In the-,method of producing roofing elements, the' steps which comprise gripp ng pro-cut elements in a horizontal position ing fluid coating material to the 'ungripped lliltl? valon portions of both faces thereof, feeding. the t us gripped elements forwardly, applypartially embedding comminuted surfacing materiaLin-the coated areas.

17. In a paratus for the purpose described, a pair of.

ise'

element in flatwise position therebetween to convey the element forwardly in a horizontal position with portions of element extending outwardly free of said belts, means for applying fluid coating material to one face of said free portions of the element as it is being fed forwardly by said belts, and means for surfacing the coated portion with comminuted mineral matter. 10 18. In apparatus for the purpose described, a (pair of belts movable in an endless-path and a apted to receive and grip a roofing element in flatwise position therebetween .to convey the element forwardly in a horizontal position with portions of element extending outwardly free of said belts, means for applying fluid coating material to both faces of said free portions of the element as it is being fed forwardly by said belts, and means for surfacing the coated areas with comminuted mineral matter. r Signed at Rutherford, in the county of Bergen and State of' New Jersey, this 16th day of July, A. D. 1929; I DONALD A. CUMFER. 

